The Gastrointestinal System (mammals)

Question 1

Name 4 structures of the gastrointestinal system

Answer 1

Any from:

• Mouth
• Pharynx
• Oesophagus
• Stomach
• Small intestine
• Large intestine
• Liver and gall bladder
• Pancreas

Question 2

Name the 4 salviary glands

Answer 2

• Parotid
• Mandibular
• Sublingual
• Zygomatic

Question 3

What does feline saliva lack?

Answer 3

Amylase

Question 4

What is the function of amylase?

Answer 4

Breaks down starch into smaller carbohydrate molecules

Question 5

Which part of the nervous system controls rate of saliva production?

Answer 5

Autonomic nervous system

Question 6

Where can small salivary glands be found?

Answer 6

Lips, cheeks, tongue, soft palate and pharynx

Question 7

Which animal group produces the most amylase in saliva?

Answer 7

Herbivores

Question 8

Describe the process of swallowing

Answer 8

Bolus of food is pushed to back of mouth by tongue
Soft palate raised to block nasopharynx
Hyoid apparatus moves forward and epiglottis closes the larynx
Pharynx opens
Bolus is pushed to top of pharynx by tongue
Pharynx closes
Peristalitic waves carry found down oesophagus to stomach
Soft palate lowers
Hyoid apparatus moves backwards, epiglottis moves forwards, larynx opens

Question 9

Why does the soft palate raise when swallowing

Answer 9

To block off nasopharynx

Question 10

Which type of muscular motion moves food down the oesophagus

Answer 10

Peristalsis

Question 11

Where is the oesophagus located

Answer 11

Down the left side of the neck, transverses the mediastinum and enters stomach at cardiac sphincter

Question 12

Name 3 gastric secretions

Answer 12

Mucus
Pepsinogen
Hydrochloric acid

Question 13

Which type of meal slows gastric emptying

Answer 13

High fat meals

Question 14

What is the pH of gastric secretions

Answer 14

less than 2

Question 15

What 3 types of cells are found in the stomach

Answer 15

Goblet cells
Parietal cells
Chief cells

Question 16

What is the function of chief cells

Answer 16

releases pepsinogen which breaks up proteins

Question 17

What is pepsinogen activated into

Answer 17

the digestive enzyme pepsin

Question 18

When is pepsinogen activated into pepsin

Answer 18

when it comes into contact with hydrochloric acid from the gastric parietal cells

Question 19

Which cells produce hydrochloric acid

Answer 19

Gastric parietal cells

Question 20

What is the function of goblet cells

Answer 20

To produce mucus to protect gastric mucosa from autodigestion

Question 21

which gastric cells prevent autodigestion

Answer 21

Goblet cells

Question 22

What is the function of parietal cells

Answer 22

to produce hydrochloric acid - that denatures proteins, kills pathogenic bacteria and turns pepsinogen into pepsin

Question 23

Which gastric secretion kills pathogenic bacteria

Answer 23

Hydrochloric acid

Question 24

What are the 3 parts of the small intestine

Answer 24

Ileum
Jejunum
Duodenum

Question 25

What is the shape of the jejunum

Answer 25

Long and coiled

Question 26

What does the ileum lack

Answer 26

Vili on the mucosa

Question 27

What is mucosa

Answer 27

a membrane that lines various cavities in the body and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue

Question 28

What is the function of the enzyme trypsin

Answer 28

Breaks down proteins into peptides and amino acids in small intestine

Question 29

Where does trypsin work

Answer 29

small intestine

Question 30

Where do proteins mainly get broken down into amino acids

Answer 30

Small intestine

Question 31

What is the function of lipase

Answer 31

To break down lipids (fats) after bile breaks them down into droplets

Question 32

What is the function of amylase

Answer 32

to break down starch into smaller carbohydrate molecules

Question 33

Where is amylase mainly found

Answer 33

Saliva | Pancreas

Question 34

What comprises the large intestine

Answer 34

Caecum Colon Rectum

Question 35

Which section of the large intestine is particularly big in rabbits

Answer 35

Caecum

Question 36

Does the small or large intestine have a slower transit time

Answer 36

Large intestine is slower

Question 37

What kind of digestion happens in the large intestine

Answer 37

Microbial digestion | fibre breakdown

Question 38

Which part of the digestive system does water and electrolytes get absorbed?

Answer 38

Large intestine

Question 39

in which part of the digestive system does b vitamins and vitamin k get extracted

Answer 39

large intestine

Question 40

Which feature do some small mammals have that larger ones don't

Answer 40

cheek pouches for food storage

Question 41

What type of digester are small mammals

Answer 41

Well developed hindgut fermenters | Herbivores

Question 42

How do small mammals mechanically break down food

Answer 42

Through teeth and stomach contractions

Question 43

Where does absorption of nutrients generally occur in small mammals

Answer 43

Duodenum onwards (large intestine)

Question 44

What is the function of the digestive system

Answer 44

to ingest food and break it down into simple compounds that can be absorbed and utilised by the body

Question 45

List 3 functions of the tongue

Answer 45

The manipulation of food. The tasting of food (the surface is covered with taste buds). Grooming.

Question 46

What is the collective name given to the numerous small projections on the surface of the tongue used for grooming?

Answer 46

Papillae

Question 47

What are 5 functions of saliva

Answer 47

Moisten food to optimise enzyme effects Lubricate food for ease of passing down oesophagus Moisten mouth - to prevent mucous membranes drying out Produce mucous produce alpha amylase to break down starch

Question 48

Why is the caecum of little significance in the cat and dog?

Answer 48

It is a site where bacteria are used to breakdown coarse vegetable matter and the cat and dog are carnivores – more significant in herbivores to break down fibre

Question 49

Where does fibre breakdown occur

Answer 49

Caecum